As a small business consultant focused on helping entrepreneurs build their brands and revenues, one of the most common questions I get asked is: how much does YouTube pay content creators?
With over 2 billion monthly users, YouTube has become a hugely important platform for establishing an online presence and monetizing video content. However, the amount of money a YouTube channel can generate varies widely depending on factors like viewership, watch time, video type, and more.
In this in-depth guide examining YouTube monetization in 2024, we‘ll cover:
- Key factors that determine YouTube earnings per view
- Average YouTube CPM and earnings per view benchmarks
- Steps to enable monetization on your YouTube channel
- Tips to optimize your YouTube channel for higher revenues
Let‘s dive in!
Key Factors That Impact YouTube Money Per View
According to recent studies by influencer marketing platforms, here are some of the most important factors determining what YouTubers get paid:
Watch Time
YouTube rewards videos that keep viewers watching for longer periods. According to data from CreatorIQ, videos with over 8 minutes of watch time generate more than 2x higher RPM (revenue per thousand views) compared to videos under 2 minutes long.
| Watch Time | RPM |
|---|---|
| 0-2 minutes | $1.17 |
| 8+ minutes | $2.97 |
By encouraging viewers to watch your videos longer, you can maximize ad placements and YouTube channel monetization.
Video Category
Some content niches attract advertisers more than others. Categories like personal finance and business see stronger advertiser demand. Meanwhile, categories like music and comedy earn less:
| Niche | RPM |
|---|---|
| Personal Finance | $4.84 |
| Business | $3.06 |
| Music | $1.17 |
| Comedy | $1.09 |
Research trending topics and produce videos in niches that appeal to big brands.
Geographical Viewership
Your viewership‘s geographic location also impacts potential earnings per view on YouTube. For example, advertisers pay more to show ads to viewers in the USA as it‘s a valuable market:
| Country | RPM |
|---|---|
| United States | $4.13 |
| Canada | $2.58 |
| India | $0.43 |
So if the majority of your audience is based in high-value countries like the USA, you can earn more per view.
What Is the Average YouTuber CPM?
Now that we‘ve covered the key factors impacting YouTube channel earnings per view, what are the actual average YouTube CPM (cost per thousand views) rates?
According to analysis by CreatorIQ, the average YouTube CPM across all categories is $7.60 per 1,000 views. Of course, top financial YouTubers likely earn towards the higher end.
To put that in context, here are typical YouTube earnings per 1,000 views at different view counts:
- 1,000 views – $7.60
- 100,000 views – $760
- 1 million views – $7,600
So for 1 million views, top creators can expect to earn $7,600 or more from YouTube ads alone.
Besides YouTube ad revenue, you can also monetize channels through channel memberships (with exclusive content for paying members) and selling branded merchandise.
How to Start Earning Money on YouTube in 2024
If you‘re wondering how to enable monetization YouTube Partner Program features like running ads or channel memberships, here are the key steps:
Step 1: Enable Monetization in YouTube Studio
First, access YouTube Studio and navigate to "Monetization", then toggle on the monetization settings. Agree to YouTube‘s terms & policies.
Step 2: Connect an AdSense Account
In your YouTube Studio, connect an existing Google AdSense account to your channel. That‘s where your earnings from YouTube ads will be deposited.
Step 3: Get Approved for YouTube Monetization
Submit your channel for reviewal by YouTube against its Publisher Policies. This process can take under a week or up to a month.
Step 4: Maximize Watch Time & Views
With monetization enabled, focus on producing binge-worthy content that keeps viewers watching while also appealing to advertisers interested in your niche.
The more engaging your content, the more views, watch time, and earnings per thousand views your channel can generate!
Final Tips for Increasing YouTube Channel Revenue
To summarize, here are my top tips for maximizing monetization as a small YouTuber:
- Optimize watch time: Create videos over 8 minutes long that keep viewers engaged.
- Choose money-making niches: Finance, business, and tech are attractive to advertisers.
- Check your audience demographics: Viewership from the USA/Canada earns more ad revenue.
- Experiment with channel memberships: Offer exclusive content or perks to subscribers.
- Sell merch: Design t-shirts or other items related to your brand fans will buy.
I hope this detailed guide breaks down how YouTube monetization works and what to expect from earnings per view! Let me know if you have any other questions.
